Flash lamp



K. KOBAYASHI Oct. 10, 1933.

FLASH LAMP Filed June 8, 1952 [N VENT UR KEJSHZ'R [.7 KUBAYA 5H! A725 A a" T GENE? Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES FLASH LAMP Keishiro Kobayashi, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application June 8, 1932, Serial No. 616,112, and in Japan June 23, 1931 6 Claims.

My invention relates to flash lamps and more particularly to flash lamps used for photographic purposes. Still more particularly my invention relates to ignition means therefor.

Flash lamps are already known in which an oxidizable metal in the form of a ribbon or foil is placed in a transparent bulb filled with oxygen or an oxygen gas mixture. The ignition of the combustible in the known lamps is accomplished 10 by electrically heating up a filament carrying a fulminating substance thereon. This method of ignition requires of course the use of a source of electricity, such as house current or a separate battery. One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means for igniting the combustible which will be simple and will eliminate auxiliary apparatus.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of species thereof.

The drawing is a perspective view of'a lamp and reflector comprising my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the lamp comprises a glass bulb 10 containing a loose filling of a readily oxidizable material 11, preferably a foil or ribbon of aluminum or magnesium. Said bulb 10 also contains a gas or substance that supports combustion, preferably oxygen or a substance that generates oxygen. A readily inflammable substance 12 such as a mixture of red phosphorus and nitre in equal proportions is placed in the bulb 10, preferably in a protuberance such as the boss 13' forming a part of said bulb. The walls of said boss 13 are preferably made thin. This lamp is ignited by heating said boss 13, as by a match, so that the readily inflammable substance 12 is ignited and immediately ignites the combustible material 11 which gives off a flash of light of high intensity.

I have shown in the drawing a reflector which may be used to advantage with the flash lamp. Said reflector comprises a curved body portion it open toward the front and bounded by two plane ends 15, 16 at the top and bottom respectively. A leaf spring 17 mounted on the upper end 15 has a hole 18 therein in which an exhaust tip 19 of the bulb 10 is inserted and the lower end 16 has a slot 20 therein which receives the boss 13 on said bulb. The reflector is held by a handle 21 mounted on the back of the body 14 of said reflector.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A flash lampcomprising a bulb, a flashing medium in said bulb, a gas which supports combustion in said bulb, a protuberance on said bulb, and a filling of a highly inflammable substance in said protuberance.

2. A flash lamp comprising a bulb, a metal foil in said bulb, a gas which supports combustion in said bulb, a protuberance on said bulb, and a filling of a highly inflammable substance in said protuberance.

3. In a. device of the class described, the com- 5 bination of a reflector comprising a body portion having a slot in the bottom thereof and a bulb containing a flashing medium and having a protuberance extending through said slot.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reflector comprising a body portion having a slot in the bottom thereof and a handle, and a bulb containing a flashing medium and having a protuberance extending through said slot.

5. A flash lamp comprising a bulb, a flashing medium in said bulb, a gas which supports combustion in said bulb, a thin walled protuberance on said bulb, and a filling of a highly inflammable substance in said protuberance.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reflector comprising a body portion having a slot in the bottom thereof, a bulb containing a flashing medium and having a protuberance extending through said slot, an ex- 5 haust tip on said bulb, and means mounted on said reflector for engaging said exhaust tip.

KEISHIRO KOBAYASHI. 

